FRIDAY

10:00 am, Marriott L401 – 403 — Welcome to Middle-earth! — A welcome and grand overview of what is planned as well as a get-to-know you session. Kick off Dragon*Con by arming yourself with knowledge and friends.

11:30 am, Marriott Atrium Ballroom — Guests from Middle-earth! — A discussion of life in and beyond Middle-Earth with a panel of diverse guests including Billy Boyd, Jed Brophy and Adam Brown [Rebroadcast on DCTV Fri. 8/29 4:00pm].

4:00 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Tolkien Costuming Q&A — Come join us for an open floor discussion on the costumes seen in LotR and The Hobbit. Beginning with patterning and working our way through prop building, armor leather working, wig ventilating and much more! Kathleen Dallin and Celtic Ruins Costumes host.

5:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Elf Choir Workshop — Sing along as part of the Elf Choir as we explore music from film and stage adaptations of Tolkien’s works. All ages, voices, and skill levels welcome!

If you are planning on taking part in the costume contest at Bree this year, you must SIGN UP IN ADVANCE.You can do this at the Tolkien Track room (L401-403) or at TORn’s table (Hyatt, opposite the Art Show entrance – their usual spot!) We will CLOSE the contest for entries at 5pm on Friday. So please help spread the word!

SATURDAY

9:00 am, Marriott L401 – 403 — Parade Participation — For those who are walking in the parade, some people will be meeting here to head to the beginning of the parade route together. The parade begins at 10:00 am. For more official information and answers to your parade questions, go here.

11:30 pm, Marriott Atrium Ballroom — Tolkien Guests — A discussion of life in and beyond Middle-Earth with a panel of diverse guests, including Billy Boyd, Jed Brophy, Craig Parker and Adam Brown.

1:00 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Hobbit Book to Film: Genius or Shark-Jumping? — As we near Peter Jackson’s final installment in his Middle-earth hexalogy, it’s time to open up the debate: has he sustained the genius, or has he started shark jumping? The gloves are off as our panel of authors, scholars, bloggers and fans consider the good, bad and ugly of the Hobbit films versus their source material. BEWARE OF SPOILERS!

2:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Tolkien Costuming By the Book— A discussion of the great costume possibilities that came before the Peter Jackson films and still remain.

4:00 pm, HiltonGrand Ballroom East — TheOneRing.net: Final Film in Middle-earth — As the final Peter Jackson film reaches its final stretch, TORn staffers take a look at what to expect.

7:00 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Forging the One Ring — Badali Jewelry explains how it makes The One Ring and other jewelry items found in both Middle-earth and Atlanta.

8:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Prep Time for Middle-earth 70’s Dance Party — If you’re helping to set up the dance party, this is where you should be.

10:00 pm, Marriott A601-A602 — Middle-earth ’70s Dance Party! — The 70s has come to Middle-earth, and Tom Bombadil thinks that’s just groovy. This will be like our 80s dance party last year, except 70s style in music and costume, so braid some flowers in your beards, dig out those silk shirts, bell bottoms and platform shoes, and get ready to do the Misty Mountain Hop (which we wish was an actual dance)! We’ll bring the disco ball. Costumes encouraged, but not required.

SUNDAY

11:30 am, Marriott Atrium Ballroom — Hobbit and LOTR Guests — A discussion of life in and beyond Middle-Earth with a panel of diverse guests, including Billy Boyd, Jed Brophy, Craig Parker and Adam Brown.

1:00 pm, Hilton Grand Ballroom East — TheOneRing.net: The Fourth Age of Fandom – what’s next in Middle-earth? — With Peter Jackson taking us to Middle-earth one final time this December, what is next for fans of Tolkien? The expectation of an Extended Edition of The Battle of the Five Armies may sustain us for a few months, but then to what can fans turn, to get our next fix of hobbits, elves, dwarves and adventure? The folks from TheOneRing.net are here to help! In this panel, we’ll look at what is coming up in the next year or so – from fan projects to big budget films, from live music to conventions – which will keep us going whilst we hope against hope for a Silmarillion! Middle-earth will always be with us – the road goes ever on!

2:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Dwarven History! — Sure you know some dwarves, but do you know about their roots? Their origins?

4:00 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — The Music of Middle-earth — From the ballads in the books to the scores of the films, music is an integral part of any version of Tolkien’s works. We will discuss the role of music in Arda, and explore some of the great variety of musical works inspired by Tolkien’s stories with Celia Sullivan.

5:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — Echoes of Arda, By Other Hands — Peter Jackson gave one view of what Middle-earth looks, sounds and feels like, but there are scores of other interpretations. Presented by Constance G. J. Wagner.

7:00 pm, Grand Ballroom West — Hobbit Drinking Songs with Brobdingnagian Bards — The Brobdingnagian Bards have been writing and singing Filk music for a very long time, and they’ll be playing some delightfully geeky Lord of the Rings and fantastical tunes for fans to enjoy!

8:30 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — So You Want to Make a Fan Film? — With excellent Middle-earth fan films abounding, let’s look at what has been done and how to get a start.

MONDAY

10:00 am, Marriott L401 – 403 — Thorin Oakenshield and Redemption — With the big screen adaptation just about to land on audiences, we explore the tragic yet triumphant Thorin Oakenshield. BEWARE OF SPOILERS!

11:30 am, Marriott Atrium Ballroom — Hobbit and LOTR Guests — We discuss life in and beyond Middle-earth with our diverse group of guests, which include Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown and Craig Parker.

1:00 pm, Marriott L401 – 403 — ARTC Performs: Bored of the Rings — A dramatic performance by the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company of a Tolkien-inspired script.

2:30 am, Marriott L401 – 403 — Goodbye: Into the West & Feedback — Goodbye friends! A chance for track attendees to discuss what they loved and what could have been better.

2013

FRIDAY

10 a.m. — Welcome to Middle-earth — A welcome and grand overview of what is planned as well as a get-to-know you session. Kick off DragonCon by arming yourself with knowledge and friends. L401 – 403, Marriott.

11: 30 am — The Hobbit: A Latter Day Legendary Saga — A discussion of the cultural roots of Tolkien’s The Hobbit in the Old Norse literary form of the Legendary Saga and the novel’s significance as a revival of this tradition in the 20th Century. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

1 pm — Dwarven Warriors Take The Stage — William Kircher and Graham McTavish, two of the actors making up the Unexpected Party of 13 dwarves in THE HOBBIT take the stage just weeks after wrapping the film and discuss what was required to play such iconic figures in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first Middle-earth book. — Centennial II – III

2:30 pm — Smaug Con: Tokien and His Dragons — Glaurung, Ancalagon & Smaug, oh my! As Bilbo nears the lair of the latter in December 2013, what better time to celebrate the danger and deviousness of the Dragons of Middle-earth? Join us for a discussion of the history, design, importance, and affection that Tolkien pours into these Great Worms! Can you name the other three L401 — 403, Marriott.

4 p.m. — Costumes: How to create a Dwarf , basic — The first of our two-part awesome costuming panel! How to choose a dwarf to costume (including dwarven body types), find references and fabrics, budget, cover the details, and make a plan. Fri 4:00 pm L401 – 403, Marriott.

5:30 p.m. — Costumes: How to create a Dwarf, advanced — How to take your dwarf from good to great with weathering, hair and prosthetics, leatherwork, props, and finished supplies. L401 – 403, Marriott.

8:30 p.m. — An Evening At Bree — The annual kick off to DCon festivities with a Bree-like atmosphere, the fantastic Emerald Rose and a more faire-type atmosphere than ever before along with a Middle-earth specific costume contest. A tradition not to be missed. Centennial I

2:30 p.m. — Battle-ready Hobbits: Scouring of the Shire, what could have been — Who did Tolkien originally envision as landing the last blow of the War of the Ring? Could it have been … Frodo? Join Constance G.J. Wagner for an intriguing discussion of what Tolkien first intended for the Hobbits’ homecoming — and debate the merits of “what if” with “what is” concerning everything from the fate of Saruman to who did what to whom in the Battle of Bywater. Here’s your chance to gaze into the Mirror of Galadriel for a unique glimpse of “things that were, things that are, and some things that have not come to pass”! L401 – 403, Marriott.

4 p.m. — Middle-earth & Hogwarts— An absurdly interesting panel of experts gather to talk about the differences and similarities of two popular realms of wizards and Elves and everything else under the sun. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

5:30 p.m. — Hobbit: One book, Three Movies — Join TheOneRing.net for a presentation of what is in store for the next two Hobbit movies of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 75-year-old tale of Thorin’s company of dwarves and its burglar. Unauthorized by any studio, the online center for Middle-earth uses clues, conjecture, set visits and spy reports to prepare you. Beware spoilers! — International South

10 p.m. — DJ Middle-earth, 80s night dance party — Tolkien’s Middle-earth Track presents a totally awesome 80’s dance party! Come dressed in your finest 80’s or Middle-earth threads. Rad music by DJ Deathskiss, an EPIC 2.5 hours of dance! Costume optional, this is a big shin-dig for all of Dragon Con with fantasy images and projections, we put the Dragon where it belongs, on a night time programming event that will bring the heat! — Grand Ballroom East

SUNDAY

10 a.m. — Inspired by Tolkien — An open discussion on writing and publishing tales that really matter. Join Constance Wagner for a confab on such creative conundrums as finding your muse; understanding your own writing process; brainstorming ideas; starting a story ( and even ENDING a story); pondering publishing — and anything else that relates to creating and sharing the True Work of your writer’s soul! Ask some Q’s. Get some A’s. —L401 – 403, Marriott.

11:30 a.m. — Thorin Oakenshield – Book and film — Susan Nease takes us along on an indepth look at Thorin as J.R.R. Tolkien wrote him and how he changed to work as a cinematic character from Peter Jackson’s script and Richard Armitage’s performance. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

1 p.m. — Previewing the Desolation of Smaugwith TheOneRing.net — TORn staff takes a sharp focus on what is in store at the cinema in only a few months. Drawn from internet clues, insider spy reports, in-person reporting, conjecture and healthy speculation, we peer into the darkness of the mountain to see what Smaug has in store. — Centennial I

2:30 p.m. — A Visual Journey Through Middle-earth — A look at Middle-earth through all of its ages from the arm of artist Jef Murray — L401 – 403, Marriott.

4 p.m. — Aragorn Loves Arwen (And Frodo Knows Why!) — Hold hands with your hobbit honey at our intimate talk on love, marriage, and destiny in Middle-earth! Join Constance Wagner for an exploration of the meaning and symbolism behind the midsummer marriage of Elf and Man — and the role Frodo plays in interpreting its significance. We’ll also walk down the aisle with our favorite May Day couple, Rosie and Sam; go medieval with Eowyn and Faramir; and even spend some time with Middle-earth’s own long term Power Couple — Galadriel and Celeborn. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

5:30 p.m. — Two Mighty Dwarves — Hobbit actors William Kircher and Graham McTavish take the stage ready for your questions on a moderated panel where we hope to delve deeper into their careers and what making movies in Middle-earth is like. — Atrium Ballroom

7 p.m. — Hobbit drinking songs! — Have you ever wanted to visit a pub in Hobbiton? Imagine the scent of warm pipe smoke and a strong hobbit ale. In the corner, a couple hobbits start to sing. The music rises as hobbits of all shapes and sizes start to sing along. Grab a pint and join the Brobdingnagian Bards as we sing some of the most popular hobbit drinking songs. BYOB. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

8:30 p.m. — Middle-earth Fan Films — An exploration of the many fan films that have sprung up about Middle-earth including the hows, why and suggestions for your own projects. An audio / visual experience. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

MONDAY

10 a.m. — Hobbit Guests Talk Tolkien & Beyond — You want stars? We have them, all from Middle-earth in the form of William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy and Graham McTavish. Centennial II – III

11:30 a.m. Tolkien & The U.K. — L401 – 403, Marriott.

1 p.m. — ARTC Performs The Scouring of the Shire — The Atlanta Radio Theater Company presents a dramatic reading of one of the dynamic but sometimes overlooked sections of The Lord of the Rings book. A crowd favorite every year, you can hear the book come to life before your very eyes with a dynamic version of J.R.R. Tolkien himself. L401 – 403, Marriott.

2:30 p.m. — New Zealand is Middle-earth — A look with maps, photos and video exactly how New Zealand supplied the iconic images of Middle-earth and how you can experience it for yourself and where to go if you do. L401 – 403, Marriott.